New Parent Advice: Let the kid explore

Hey dog, I won!

Between my daughter who is due in September, and one of our Exchange Students who was due a week ago, it may be time to start doling out random advice for new parents.

Today's advice:  Let the kid explore.

They sell those door/drawer locks for kitchen cabinets and drawers to prevent toddlers (and others) from getting into them.  Don't buy them.  Put the unbreakable stuff in the bottom cabinets and let the kids explore.  Keep the knives and glassware up high, of course, but let the kids empty out the cabinets.

It lets them see how things work.  It allows you the opportunity to teach them about putting things away, and just as important, it keeps them busy.  And it works all over the house. 

So you have to wash a few more things.  So the house looks a bit cluttered.  So the child's inner drummer will come out when they find out that metal pans make a lot of noise.  Just rinse off the pan before you use it.  Don't try to control what the kid should be doing, let them explore.

We acquired this plaque when the kids were young.  Truer words were never spoken.